Finely textured beef product and process

ABSTRACT

Animal trimmings are converted to a finely textured beef product by heating ground animal trimmings to a temperature sufficient to liquefy fat in the animal trimmings and less than a temperature to significantly cook the animal trimmings thereby forming a heated slurry, separating at least a portion of the liquid fat from the heated slurry to form a lean textured beef slurry having a fat content of less than about 30% by weight and adding sodium carbonate to the lean textured beef slurry in an amount sufficient to provide a finely textured beef product comprising sodium carbonate in an amount of from about 0.02 to about 0.1% by weight. Finely textured beef products and mixed meat products comprising the finely textured beef products are also described.

FIELD

The present invention relates to finely textured beef and a process forpreparing the finely textured beef.

BACKGROUND

Finely textured beef (FTB), also referred to as fat reduced beef, is alean edible by-product derived primarily from fatty beef trimmings. Theraw material for FTB includes trimmings derived from boning andfabrication operations of a beef carcass. The raw material can be highin fat but contains visible lean meat. FTB is formed when the lean meatis separated through a rendering process to achieve a relatively low-fatlean meat product. Rendering is the heating of meat products to separateout the meat from the fat. Production of FTB changes the originaltrimmings from a fatty, low quality, low value product to a relativelylean and valuable product. Examples of processes for preparing finelytextured beef are described in U.S. Pat. No. 8,080,270 to Schaefer, etal. and U.S. Pat. No. 8,158,176 to Steiner.

The government provides that a certain quality of meat product obtainedfrom animal trimmings can be used undeclared in meat products of thesame species. For example, “finely textured beef” and “lean finelytextured beef” can be used in ground beef without being declared on thelabel, “Finely textured meat” is required to have a hit content of lessthan 30%; a protein content of greater than 14%, by weight; a proteinefficiency ratio (PER) of 2.5 or higher, or an essential amino acids(EAA) content of 33% of the total amino acids or higher; must beprepared in a federally inspected plant; must not have a producttemperature during processing exceeding 43° C. (about 110° F.); must befrozen in less than 30 minutes after processing; must not allow asignificant increase in bacterial numbers; and must not be treated withchemicals or additives. “Lean finely textured meat” is required to havea fat content of less than 10%, by weight, and complies with the otherrequirements of “finely textured meat.”

U.S. Pat. No. 5,871,795 to Roth is directed to a method of improving thequality of a meat product by contacting the surface of the meat productwith a pH increasing gas comprising NH₃ gas at an operating pressure ator above the vapor pressure of the pH increasing gas at the temperatureof the meat product. The quality benefit provided by this process is“reducing or controlling pathogenic microbe content in the material.”

SUMMARY

It has been found addition of sodium carbonate during preparation offinely textured beef greatly improves not only the water bindingcharacteristics of final mixed meat products prepared using the finelytextured beef, but additionally improves the cohesive properties offinal mixed meat products (i.e., binding of meat products such as, forexample, meat patties, encased meats, meatloaf, and the like) and, mostsurprisingly, the cook yield of final mixed meat products. The propertyof meat binding is particularly important for the organolepticproperties of the final product being consumed. The property of cookyield is particularly important for businesses that cook and servecustomers final mixed meat products, such as restaurants andinstitutional food service organizations. These businesses place highvalue on predictable cooked product weight relative to weight ofstarting material. Increased cook yield enhances this predictability.Additionally, these businesses purchase large amounts of final mixedmeat product, and highly value increased cook yield of product to besold to their customers based on volume of sales. Because of thesefactors, increased cook yield of even one percent by weight is animportant benefit in this industry

In an aspect of the present invention, a method for converting animaltrimmings to a finely textured beef product comprises heating groundanimal trimmings to a temperature sufficient to liquefy fat in theanimal trimmings and less than a temperature to significantly cook theanimal trimmings thereby forming a heated slurry, separating at least aportion of the liquid fat from the heated slurry to form a lean texturedbeef slurry having a fat content of less than about 30% by weight andadding sodium carbonate to the lean textured beef slurry in an amountsufficient to provide a finely textured beef product comprising sodiumcarbonate in an amount of from about 0.02 to about 0.1% by weight. In anaspect of the present invention, the fat content of the finely texturedbeef product is the same as the fat content of the intermediate heatedslurry.

In an aspect of the present invention, a method for converting animaltrimmings to a finely textured beef product is provided that enhancesthe weight percent of protein in the finely textured beef product ascompared with the weight percent of protein in the intermediate heatedslurry. In an aspect of the present invention, this method comprises

a) heating ground animal trimmings to a temperature sufficient toliquefy fat in the animal trimmings and less than a temperature tosignificantly cook the animal trimmings thereby forming a heated slurry;

(b) separating the heated slurry into a solids stream and a liquidsstream, the solids stream comprising an increased weight percent ofprotein compared with the weight percent of protein in the heatedslurry, and the liquids stream containing an increased weight percent offat and water soluble proteins compared with the weight percent of fatand water soluble protein in the heated slurry;

(c) separating the liquids stream into a heavy phase and a light phase,the heavy phase comprising an increased weight percent of moisture andwater soluble proteins compared to the weight percent of moisture andwater soluble proteins in the liquids stream, and the light phasecontaining an increased weight percent of tallow compared with theweight percent of fat in the liquids stream; and

(d) combining the solids stream from the heated slurry and the heavyphase from the liquids stream thereby forming a finely textured beefproduct; wherein sodium carbonate is added to the solids stream afterseparation from the heated slurry or to the finely textured beef productin an amount sufficient to provide a finely textured beef productcomprising sodium carbonate in an amount of from about 0.02 to about0.1% by weight.

Products made by any of the processes described herein are also aspectsof the present invention.

In an aspect of the present invention, a finely textured beef productcomprises sodium carbonate in an amount of from about 0.02 to about 0.1%by weight and having a fat content of less than about 30% by weight.

In an aspect of the present invention, a mixed meat product comprises amixture of ground beef and the finely textured beef product describedherein, wherein the finely textured beef product is present as at least10% of the mixed meat product.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The aspects of the present invention described below are not intended tobe exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosedin the following detailed description. Rather a purpose of the aspectschosen and described is by way of illustration or example, so that theappreciation and understanding by others skilled in the art of thegeneral principles and practices of the present invention can befacilitated.

Generally, “animal trimmings” refers to the tissue cut away fromconventional cuts or parts of the carcasses of meat producing animalsduring butchering operations in packing houses and the like. Theconventional cuts or parts are generally sold directly to consumers orfurther processed by, for example, grinding into ground beef. The tissueremaining after the conventional cuts are removed, or after theconventional cuts have been further trimmed, generally has a fat contentwhich is too high for human consumption as meat, but contains proteinwhich can be recovered. The animal trimmings may in an aspect beobtained from any “meat producing animals,” which are animals which areconventionally processed to provide meat. Such animals include beef,pork, poultry, lamb, deer, fish, and the like. In a particularlypreferred aspect of the present invention, the animal trimmings arebeef.

The animal trimmings can include any part of an animal which is trimmedaway from the carcass of the animal or the cuts. The animal trimmingscan include all the parts normally found in an animal, including adiposetissue, fat, lean, ligaments, tendons, bone parts, and the like. It isgenerally desirable that if components other than fat, lean, andmoisture are present, they are present in small quantities and/or can beremoved in the desinewing step or by hand, if desired, or can be lefttherein if their presence does not adversely affect the properties ofthe meat product. If large amounts of certain components are present, itmay be desirable to have them removed by conventional separationtechniques prior to processing according to the present invention. Forexample, it is generally desirable not to have large amounts of bonepresent or large amounts of low quality ligaments.

It should be kept in mind that “meat producing animals” are animalswhich are conventionally processed to provide meat. Such animals includebeef, pork, poultry, lamb, deer, fish, and the like. The lean materialcan be referred to as protein-containing material, and can be in theform of water soluble protein which tends to give the meat its color,salt soluble protein which include muscle fiber, and nonsoluble proteinwhich are generally the connective tissue which surrounds muscle fiberand which attach the muscle fibers to ligaments. Of particular interestfor purposes of the present invention is the presence of the watersoluble protein and the salt soluble protein in the fatty tissue withinthe fat trimmings. By separating this material from the animaltrimmings, a high quality meat product can be provided.

Animal trimmings which can be used in the present invention preferablyhave an average fat content of between about 50 and 80% by weight, andmore preferably between about 60 and 70% by weight. The lean content ofthe animal trimmings is preferably between about 20 and 50% by weight,and more preferably between about 30 and 40% by weight. In order toensure reliable and consistent results, it is preferable that the leancontent of the animal trimmings is at least 37% by weight, and even morepreferably at least 39% by weight. It should be kept in mind that thelean content includes protein and moisture.

The animal trimmings in one aspect of the present invention areprocessed in a controlled atmosphere environment to limit exposure ofthe animal trimmings to oxygen. By limiting access to the atmosphere,oxidation of the meat can be limited thereby reducing or eliminating offflavors.

In an aspect of the invention, the animal trimmings may first undergo adesinewing step that may or may not remove all of the connective tissue.Generally, the desinewing step removes a large amount of the low qualityprotein component from the animal trimmings. By separating the sinewfrom the beef trimmings, the proportion of essential amino acids tototal amino acids in the final meat product can be increased.Accordingly, it should be appreciated that the essential amino acidscontent and the protein efficiency ratio of the final meat product canbe adjusted, as desired, based upon the desinewing step.

The animal trimmings are in an aspect provided in the form of a slurry,and are fed into a particle reducer where the particle sizes in theslurry are reduced to form a ground animal trimmings dispersion having aroughly uniform consistency. The particle reducer can in an aspect be acommercially available particle reducer such as the Commitrol™ particlereducer manufactured by Urschel Laboratories Co.

The ground animal trimmings are heated to a temperature sufficient toliquefy fat in the animal trimmings and less than a temperature tosignificantly cook the animal trimmings thereby forming a heated slurry.In an aspect, the ground animal trimmings are heated to a temperature inthe range of about 32° C. to about 50° C. (about 90° F. to about 120°F.) At least a portion of the liquid fat is separated from the heatedslurry so that the remaining portion of the heated slurry is a leantextured beef slurry having a fat content of less than about 30% byweight. In an aspect, the lean textured beef slurry has a fat content ofless than about 25% by weight. In an aspect, the lean textured beefslurry has a fat content of less than about 15% by weight. In an aspect,the lean textured beef slurry has a fat content of from about 1 to about10% by weight. In an aspect, the lean textured beef slurry has a fatcontent of from about 1 to about 7% by weight. In an aspect, the leantextured beef slurry has a fat content of from about 1 to about 5% byweight. In an aspect of the present invention, the fat content of thefinely textured beef product is the same as the fat content of theintermediate heated slurry.

The liquid fat may be separated from the heated slurry by anyappropriate technique, such as centrifuging or decanting.

Sodium carbonate is added to the lean textured beef slurry in an amountsufficient to provide a finely textured beef product comprising sodiumcarbonate in an amount of from about 0.02 to about 0.1% by weight. Ithas been found that addition of sodium carbonate after separation of thefat from the intermediate heated slurry is preferable, because additionof sodium carbonate prior to separation of the fat from the intermediateheated slurry adversely affects the separation process.

In an aspect, sodium carbonate is added to the lean textured beef slurryin an amount sufficient to provide a finely textured beef productcomprising sodium carbonate in an amount of from about 0.03 to about0.05% by weight.

Reducing the number and amount of additives in food products isperceived to be highly advantageous in the food industry. According tothe United State Food and Drug Administration definition, processingaids are substances that have no technical or functional effect in afinished food but may be present in that food by having been used asingredients of another food in which they had a technical effect. In anaspect, sodium carbonate and water are the only non-meat sourcedprocessing aids present in the finely textured beef product. In anaspect, sodium carbonate and water are the only non-meat sourcedingredients present in the finely textured beef product.

In an aspect of the present invention, a method for converting animaltrimmings to a finely textured beef product is provided that enhancesthe weight percent of protein in the finely textured beef product ascompared with the weight percent of protein in the intermediate heatedslurry and further comprising addition of sodium carbonate. An exampleof aspects of such a process is described in U.S. Pat. No. 8,080,270,which is incorporated by reference for the purpose of describing thesystem and methodology for enhancing the weight percent of protein inthe finely textured beef product as compared with the weight percent ofprotein in the intermediate heated slurry.

In this aspect of the present invention, this method comprises a firststep of heating ground animal trimmings to a temperature sufficient toliquefy fat in the animal trimmings and less than a temperature tosignificantly cook the animal trimmings thereby forming a heated slurryas described above. This heated slurry is separated into a solids streamand a liquids stream, the solids stream comprising an increased weightpercent of protein compared with the weight percent of protein in theheated slurry, and the liquids stream containing an increased weightpercent of fat and water soluble proteins compared with the weightpercent of fat and water soluble protein in the heated slurry. Theliquids stream is separated into a heavy phase and a light phase, theheavy phase comprising an increased weight percent of moisture and watersoluble proteins compared to the weight percent of moisture and watersoluble proteins in the liquids stream, and the light phase containingan increased weight percent of tallow compared with the weight percentof fat in the liquids stream. The solids stream from the heated slurryis combined with the heavy phase from the liquids stream thereby forminga finely textured beef product. Sodium carbonate is added to the solidsstream after separation from the heated slurry, or to the finelytextured beef product in an amount sufficient to provide a finelytextured beef product comprising sodium carbonate in an amount of fromabout 0.02 to about 0.1% by weight.

In an aspect, the finely textured beef product comprises sodiumcarbonate in an amount of from about 0.03 to about 0.05% by weight. Inan aspect, the finely textured beef product has a fat content of lessthan about 30% by weight. In an aspect, the finely textured beef producthas a fat content of less than about 25% by weight. In an aspect, thefinely textured beef product has a fat content of less than about 15% byweight. In an aspect, the finely textured beef product has a fat contentof from about 1 to about 10% by weight. In an aspect, the finelytextured beef product has a fat content of from about 1 to about 7% byweight. In an aspect, the finely textured beef product has a fat contentof from about 1 to about 5% by weight.

In an aspect, the finely textured beef product made by any of the aboveprocesses or aspects thereof is cooled or frozen, for example, on afreeze apparatus such as a Freeze Wheel System sold by Reno Technology.The cooled or frozen finely textured beef product is then packaged forstorage or sale.

In an aspect, the present invention relates to the finely textured beefproduct made by any of the processes, including combinations of variousaspects of the processes, described herein.

In an aspect, the present invention relates to a finely textured beefproduct comprising sodium carbonate in an amount of from about 0.02 toabout 0.1% by weight and having a fat content of less than about 30% byweight. In an aspect, the finely textured beef product comprises sodiumcarbonate in an amount of from about 0.03 to about 0.05% by weight. Inan aspect, the finely textured beef product comprises sodium carbonatein an amount effective to provide a finely textured beef product havinga pH of from about 6.5 to about 8. In an aspect, the finely texturedbeef product comprises sodium carbonate in an amount effective toprovide a finely textured beef product having a pH of from about 7 toabout 7.5. In an aspect, the finely textured beef product comprisessodium carbonate in an amount effective to provide a finely texturedbeef product having a moisture content of from about 75% to about 81% byweight. In an aspect, the finely textured beef product comprises sodiumcarbonate in an amount effective to provide a finely textured beefproduct having a cook yield that is from about 1 to about 10% higher byweight than a like finely textured beef product not containing sodiumcarbonate. In an aspect, the finely textured beef product comprisessodium carbonate in an amount effective to provide a finely texturedbeef product having a cook yield that is from about 1 to about 8% higherby weight than a like finely textured beef product not containing sodiumcarbonate.

In an aspect, the finely textured beef product has a fat content of lessthan about 30% by weight. In an aspect, the finely textured beef producthas a fat content of less than about 25% by weight. In an aspect, thefinely textured beef product has a fat content of less than about 15% byweight. In an aspect, the finely textured beef product has a fat contentof from about 1 to about 10% by weight. In an aspect, the finelytextured beef product has a fat content of from about 1 to about 7% byweight. In an aspect, the finely textured beef product has a fat contentof from about 1 to about 5% by weight.

In an aspect, the meat product has a fat content of less than 30%; aprotein content of greater than 14%; and a protein efficiency ratio of2.5 or higher, and an essential amino acids content of at least 33% ofthe total amino acids.

In an aspect, sodium carbonate and water are the only non-meat sourcedprocessing aids present in the finely textured beef product.

In an aspect, the present invention relates to a mixed meat productcomprising a mixture of ground beef and any of the finely textured beefproducts as described above, wherein the finely textured beef product ispresent as at least 10% of the mixed meat product. It has beendiscovered that the advantages of cohesive properties of final mixedmeat products (i.e., meat binding) and the cook yield of final mixedmeat products are particularly obtained when the finely textured beefproduct is present as at least 10% of the mixed meat product. In anaspect, the finely textured beef product is present as at least 20% ofthe mixed meat product. In an aspect, the finely textured beef productis present as from about 10 to about 35% of the mixed meat product.

In an aspect, sodium carbonate and water are the only non-meat sourcedprocessing aids present in the mixed meat product. In an aspect, sodiumcarbonate and water are the only non-meat sourced ingredients present inthe mixed meat product.

EXAMPLES

Representative embodiments of the present invention will now bedescribed with reference to the following examples that illustrate theprinciples and practice of the present invention.

Example Set I

A. Finely Textured Beef Preparation

Finely Textured Beef was prepared, with addition of the processing aidingredients as follows:

Test Lot 1 (T1)—Control (no added processing aids)

Test Lot 2 (T2)—Ammonia/ammonium hydroxide (FTB sourced from BeefProducts, Inc.)

Test Lot 3 (T3)—10% Sodium Carbonate

Test Lot 4 (T4)—6% Sodium Metasilicate (Avguard XP™)

Test Lot 5 (T5)—10% Potassium Hydroxide (Syntrx pH Plus™)

B. Patty Preparation

Hamburger patties comprising ground beef and finely textured beef at anFTB inclusion content of 25% by weight. The patties were formulated toprovide a 71% lean content.

C. Analysis Methods

All samples were analyzed for pH, Fat, Moisture, Protein, thiobarbituricacid values (TBA) and Sodium.

Tube Cook yields and bind testing used the following methodologies.

-   -   a. Twenty 40 gram samples of each treatment were weighed into 50        ml centrifuge tubes. All treatment sample tubes were evenly        divided into five different batches to generate 5 replications        of testing.    -   b. All samples were centrifuged to a speed of 1000 rpm for 1        second to achieve same level of compaction.    -   c. Each replication of sample tubes was cooked for 1 hour in a        water bath at 160° F.    -   d. Following cooking, all samples were centrifuged at 3500 rpm        for 2 minutes.    -   e. Supernatant was removed from the meat plug.    -   f. Samples were refrigerated overnight. Meat plug was weighed to        determine cook yield.    -   g. Shear force analysis was completed in duplicate on each meat        plug.

Ten Patty combined Cook yields and bind testing

-   -   a. Thirty patty samples of each treatment were weighed in groups        of ten patties before and after cooking to determine cook patty        yield.    -   b. Patties were cooked on a flat top grill at 350° F. for 5        minutes, 2.5 minutes per side.    -   c. Patties were allowed to rest for 3 minutes before measuring        bind.    -   d. Patty bind was measured by the amount of grams force needed        to pull the patty apart using Dillon model GTX scale.

Individual Patty Cook yields

-   -   a. Eighty patty samples of treatment T1, T2 and T3 were weighed        individually before and after cooking to determine single cook        patty yield.    -   b. Patties were cooked on a flat top grill at 350° F. for 5        minutes, 2.5 minutes per side.

Hedonic Analysis

Patties made and cooked as indicated were evaluated by a trained panel,for flavor, juiciness, texture or overall acceptability. Panel membersassigned a score, which was averaged to provide a numerical value foreach aspect evaluated.

D. Results

TABLE 1 Hedonic Scores Ammonia/ Sodium ammonium Potassium Meta- Sodiumhydroxide Hydroxide silicate Carbonate Control Overall 1.24^(a) 1.76^(a)1.46^(a) 1.54^(a) 1.42^(a) Difference Overall 6.38^(a) 6.54^(a) 6.76^(a)6.82^(a) 6.44^(a) Acceptability Overall 6.36^(a) 6.46^(a) 6.72^(a)6.74^(a) 6.36^(a) Flavor Overall 6.24^(a) 6.52^(a) 6.38^(a) 6.66^(a)6.44^(a) Juiciness Overall 6.38^(a) 6.34^(a) 6.52^(a) 6.66^(a) 6.52^(a)Texture Level of significance for grouping (Turkey): 5%

Means within a column with different letter are significantly differentat a=5%. Scale used: 1 dislike extremely, 2 dislike very much, 3 dislikemoderately, 4 dislike slightly, 5 neither like nor dislike, 6 likeslightly, 7 like moderately, 8 like very much, 9 like extremely.

TABLE 2 Sample data Average % Average % Sample Fat Moisture TBA SodiumFood Scan Food Scan Food Scan Food Scan Description Ankom Ankom Value(mg/100 g) % Fat % Protein % Moisture % Salt pH T1 Control 26.05671 58.496218 0.659533 72.6134   25.75137 15.3577  57.8715546   0.18439646.15 T2 25.055377 59.693581 0.762085 80.909748 24.64176 16.0331759.6636705   0.6527196 6.10 Ammonia/ ammonium hydroxide T3 Sodium28.887532 56.184717 0.41293  74.686389 28.53469 15.37952 56.082078 −0.3955738 6.57 Carbonate T4 Sodium 27.023479 58.383224 0.44741893.253115 27.3356  15.081   57.7769752 −0.1818212 6.43 Metasilicate T527.689569 57.614749 0.527588 98.755033 27.95646 15.0181  57.2659709−0.4688038 6.54 Potassium Hydroxide

TABLE 3 Sample performance data Average of Average of Average of Averageof Average of Average of Treatment Springiness Cohesiveness GumminessChewiness Resilience Hardness T1 Control 0.817 0.421 1910.095 1565.0100.177 4500.374 T2 Ammonia/ 0.817 0.413 2017.871 1643.095 0.170 4792.347ammonium hydroxide T3 Sodium Carbonate 0.838 0.442 2395.421 2005.2510.183 5369.461 T4 Sodium 0.831 0.450 2507.661 2085.047 0.189 5538.804Metasilicate T5 Potassium 0.828 0.437 2356.742 1954.213 0.184 5354.916Hydroxide

TABLE 4 Response % cook yield Treatment Least Squares Means TableTreatment Least Sq Mean Std Error Mean T1 Control 62.5 0.457 62.50 T2Ammonia/ 61.75 0.457 61.75 ammonium hydroxide T3 Sodium Carbonate 64.000.457 64.00 T4 Sodium Metasilicate 62.13 0.457 62.13 T5 PotassiumHydroxide 62.50 0.457 62.50

TABLE 5 % cook yield LSMeans Differences Student's t Treatment LevelLeast Sq Mean T3 Sodium Carbonate A 64.00 T1 Control B 62.50 T5Potassium Hydroxide B 62.50 T4 Sodium Metasilicate B 62.13 T2 Ammonia/ B61.75 ammonium hydroxide Levels not connected by same letter aresignificantly different. α = 0.050

TABLE 6 Patty Response grams of force Least Squares Means Table LeastStd Treatment Sq Mean Error Mean T1 Control 487.80 20.67 487.800 T2Ammonia/ 544.27 20.67 544.267 ammonium hydroxide T3 Sodium Carbonate693.60 20.67 693.600 T4 Sodium Metasilicate 623.33 20.67 623.333 T5Potassium Hydroxide 588.77 20.67 588.767

TABLE 7 Patty grams of force LSMeans Differences Student's t TreatmentLevel Least Sq Mean T3 Sodium Carbonate A 693.60 T4 Sodium MetasilicateB 623.33 T5 Potassium Hydroxide B C 588.77 T2 Ammonia/ C D 544.27ammonium hydroxide T1 Control D 487.80 Levels not connected by sameletter are significantly different. α = 0.050

TABLE 8 Patty Cook Yields (10 patties combined) Treatment Average %patty Cook Yield T1 Control 58.38 T2 Ammonia/ 61.24 ammonium hydroxideT3 Sodium Carbonate 62.81 T4 Sodium Metasilicate 60.03 T5 PotassiumHydroxide 60.37

TABLE 9 Individual patty cooked Least Squares Means Level Least Sq MeanStd Error Mean T1 Control 58.828250 0.22231747 58.8283 T2 Ammonia/61.200375 0.22231747 61.2004 ammonium hydroxide T3 Sodium Carbonate61.465432 0.22094087 61.4654

TABLE 10 Individual LSMeans Differences Student's t Sample Level LeastSq Mean T3 Sodium Carbonate A 61.465432 T2 Ammonia/ A 61.200375 ammoniumhydroxide T1 Control B 58.828250 Levels not connected by same letter aresignificantly different. α = 0.050E. Discussion

Sensory hedonic test showed no statistical difference with flavor,juiciness, texture or overall acceptability (Table 1). The sodiumcarbonate and the sodium metasilicate FTB samples ranked highest onoverall acceptability in the hedonic test. All sample results werehigher on overall acceptability when compared to FTB samples containingAmmonia/ammonium hydroxide, including the control FTB product. However,there was no statistical difference.

The pH adjustment processing aids all increased the pH of the 71% groundbeef formulated with FTB when compared to the control and all were at ahigher pH than the Ammonia/ammonium hydroxide product (Table 2). Thecontrol and Ammonia/ammonium hydroxide treatments produced 1 to 3% lessfat when compared to the other treatments (Table 2). The sodiumcarbonate treatment had the highest fat content, which may havecontributed to the best sensory scores. The sodium values of theAmmonia/ammonium hydroxide, sodium metasilicate and potassium hydroxidetreatments were above USDA standard values.

Observations from tube bind testing showed all treatments increasedaverage measurements compared to the Control product and theAmmonia/ammonium hydroxide product tested in this patty formulation(Table 3). No statistical difference was observed between the Controltreatment and the Ammonia/ammonium hydroxide sample for the tube bindtesting. Only the sodium carbonate treatment significantly increasedcook yields during the tube yield test (Tables 4 and 6).

Patty bind testing student's t showed there was no statisticaldifference between the control product and the product containingAmmonia/ammonium hydroxide; however it required greater force to breakthe patty (Tables 6 and 7). All other treatments required greater forcethan the product containing Ammonia/ammonium hydroxide to break thepatty. The product containing sodium carbonate provided the tightestbound patty. During production, adjustments were made to the pattyforming machine (Formax® Forming machine) after preparation of thecontrol lot, was made which could account for some of the controlpatties being the easiest to break. Holes were observed during cookingin the control and product containing Ammonia/ammonium hydroxide.Ammonia/ammonium hydroxide samples cracked more compared to all othertreatments.

Patty cook yields were collected on ten patties cooked together and wasrepeated 3 times. Because only 3 measurements collected, statisticalanalysis was not performed on the patty cook yields. All treatmentsresulted in at least a 2% higher cook yield when compared to the controlFTB product (Table 8). Sodium carbonate treatment was the only treatmentthat increased cook yield when compared to the product containingAmmonia/ammonium hydroxide. The sodium carbonate cook yield wassignificantly increased by 2.7% compared to the control product. Theeighty individual cooked patties proved increasing pH of FTB increasedpatty cook yields (Tables 9, 10). No difference in cook yields wasobserved between the Ammonia/ammonium hydroxide and sodium carbonate forindividual cook yields.

Example Set II

A. Finely Textured Beef Preparation—Set

Finely Textured Beef was prepared, with addition of the processing aidingredients as follows:

Test Lot 6 (T6)—Control (no added processing aids)

Test Lot 7 (T7)—Ammonia/ammonium hydroxide (FTB sourced from BeefProducts, Inc.)

Test Lot 8 (T8)—Sodium Carbonate

A meat formulation for incorporation of processing aides as noted abovewas prepared as follows:

a. Two pound batch was made for each treatment with a target of 73%lean.

b. Formula

TABLE 11 Meat formulation for inclusion of processing aides % Meat %Total Pounds Meat Block Block Formula per batch 90's 11.17 24.56 0.4950's 47.92 41.00 0.82 FTB 40.91 20.00 0.40 Salt 1.75 1.5 0.03 Water14.61 12.50 0.25 Phosphate 450 super 0.51 .44 0.01 Total 116.88 100.002.0

c. the 90's and 50's were ground using ⅜ inch plate

d. All ingredients were weighed for treatment batch and then mixed in akitchen mixer for 2 minutes.

e. all batches were then ground using ⅛ inch plate.

f. the final products were vacuum package and held overnight.

Samples were analyzed as follows:

pH was measured on each sample.

Cook yields and bind testing were carried out using the followingprocedure:

a. Twenty 40 gram of samples of each treatment were weighed into 50 mlcentrifuge tubes. All sample tubes treatments were evenly dived intofive different batches to generate 5 replication of testing.

b. All samples were centrifuged to a speed of 1000 rmp for 1 second toachieve same level of compaction.

c. Each replication of sample tubes was cooked for 1 hour in a waterbath at 160° F.

d. Following cooking all samples were centrifuged at 3500 rmp for 2minutes.

e. Supernatant was removed from the meat plug.

f. Samples were refrigerated overnight

g. Meat plug was weighed to determine cook yield.

h. Shear force analysis was completed in duplicate on each meat plug.

C. Results

TABLE 12 Product pH Treatment pH T8 Sodium Carbonate 6.67 T6 Control6.37 T7 Ammonia/ammonium hydroxide 6.73

Adding sodium carbonate to the FTB sample increased the pH of theformulated meat product when compared to the control, but the resultingpH of the final mixed product is still less than the Ammonia/ammoniumhydroxide product.

TABLE 13 Product cook Yield % Treatment Least Sq Mean Std Error Mean T6Control 89.32 0.821 89.32 T7 Ammonia/ammonium hydroxide 87.68 0.86887.68 T8 Sodium Carbonate 91.44 0.821 91.44

TABLE 14 LSMeans Differences Student's t Treatment Level Least Sq MeanT8 Sodium Carbonate A 91.44 T6 Control A B 89.32 T7 Ammonia/ammoniumhydroxide B 87.68 Levels not connected by same letter are significantlydifferent. α = 0.050

The sodium carbonate treated samples had an improved cook yield ascompared to the control and the Ammonia/ammonium hydroxide product, butwas not statically different from the Ammonia/ammonium hydroxideproduct.

TABLE 15 Sample performance data Average of Average of Average ofAverage of Average of Average of Treatment Springiness CohesivenessGumminess Chewiness Resilience Hardness T6 Control 0.830 0.526 5493.074553.17 0.237 10406.86 T7 Ammonia/ 0.813 0.458 4049.71 3289.57 0.1978794.81 ammonium hydroxide T8 Sodium Carbonate 0.825 0.497 4146.773421.60 0.218 8306.60

The product comprising the control FTB samples exhibited higher hardnessvalues as compared to the Ammonia/ammonium hydroxide containing product,meaning that the control final product was much firmer than theAmmonia/ammonium hydroxide product. The possible reasons for theseresults is particle size or cook yield difference. The product madeusing the FTB sample comprising sodium carbonate was not as hard as theproduct made using the Control FTB product.

These results indicate that the use of sodium carbonate in an FTBmaterial improves the product quality of the final mixed product. In anaspect, the use of sodium carbonate in an FTB material improves cookyields as compared to like products not containing sodium carbonate(i.e. the control), and instead containing Ammonia/ammonium hydroxide.

As used herein, the terms “about” or “approximately” mean within anacceptable range for the particular parameter specified as determined byone of ordinary skill in the art, which will depend in part on how thevalue is measured or determined, e.g., the limitations of the samplepreparation and measurement system. Examples of such limitations includepreparing the sample in a wet versus a dry environment, differentinstruments, variations in sample height, and differing requirements insignal-to-noise ratios. For example, “about” can mean greater or lesserthan the value or range of values stated by 1/10 of the stated values,but is not intended to limit any value or range of values to only thisbroader definition. For instance, a concentration value of about 30%means a concentration between 27% and 33%. Each value or range of valuespreceded by the term “about” is also intended to encompass theembodiment of the stated absolute value or range of values.Alternatively, particularly with respect to biological systems orprocesses, the term can mean within an order of magnitude, preferablywithin 5-fold, and more preferably within 2-fold, of a value.

Throughout this specification and claims, unless the context requiresotherwise, the word “comprise”, and variations such as “comprises” and“comprising”, will be understood to imply the inclusion of a statedinteger or step or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion ofany other integer or step or group of integer or step. When used herein“consisting of” excludes any element, step, or ingredient not specifiedin the claim element. When used herein, “consisting essentially of” doesnot exclude materials or steps that do not materially affect the basicand novel characteristics of the claim. In the present disclosure ofvarious embodiments, any of the terms “comprising”, “consistingessentially of” and “consisting of” used in the description of anembodiment may be replaced with either of the other two terms.

All patents, patent applications (including provisional applications),and publications cited herein are incorporated by reference as ifindividually incorporated for all purposes. Unless otherwise indicated,all parts and percentages are by weight and all molecular weights areweight average molecular weights. The foregoing detailed description hasbeen given for clarity of understanding only. No unnecessary limitationsare to be understood therefrom. The invention is not limited to theexact details shown and described, for variations obvious to one skilledin the art will be included within the invention defined by the claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for converting animal trimmings to afinely textured beef product comprising: (a) heating ground animaltrimmings to a temperature sufficient to liquefy fat in the animaltrimmings and less than a temperature to significantly cook the animaltrimmings thereby forming a heated slurry; (b) separating at least aportion of the liquid fat from the heated slurry to form a lean texturedbeef slurry having a fat content of less than about 30% by weight; and(c) adding sodium carbonate to the lean textured beef slurry in anamount effective to adjust the lean textured beef slurry to a pH of fromabout 6.5 to about 8, wherein the sodium carbonate is added in an amountof from about 0.02 to about 0.1% by weight to provide a finely texturedbeef product; wherein non-meat sourced processing aids used in thepresent method consist of sodium carbonate and water, and wherein thecohesive properties of final mixed meat products comprising the finelytextured beef product are improved as compared to like final mixed meatproducts comprising finely textured beef product comprising sodiummetasilicate, potassium hydroxide, Ammonia/ammonium hydroxide, oruntreated finely textured beef product.
 2. The method of claim 1,wherein the finely textured beef product comprises sodium carbonate inan amount of from about 0.03 to about 0.05% by weight.
 3. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the finely textured beef product has a fat content ofless than about 25% by weight.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein thefinely textured beef product has a fat content of from about 1 to about10% by weight.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the finely texturedbeef product has a fat content of from about 1 to about 7% by weight. 6.The method of claim 1, wherein the finely textured beef product has afat content of from about 1 to about 5% by weight.
 7. The method ofclaim 1, wherein sodium carbonate and water are the only non-meatsourced ingredients present in the finely textured beef product.
 8. Amethod for converting animal trimmings to a finely textured beef productcomprising: (a) heating ground animal trimmings to a temperaturesufficient to liquefy fat in the animal trimmings and less than atemperature to significantly cook the animal trimmings thereby forming aheated slurry; (b) separating the heated slurry into a solids stream anda liquids stream, the solids stream comprising an increased weightpercent of protein compared with the weight percent of protein in theheated slurry, and the liquids stream containing an increased weightpercent of fat and water soluble proteins compared with the weightpercent of fat and water soluble protein in the heated slurry; (c)separating the liquids stream into a heavy phase and a light phase, theheavy phase comprising an increased weight percent of moisture and watersoluble proteins compared to the weight percent of moisture and watersoluble proteins in the liquids stream, and the light phase containingan increased weight percent of tallow compared with the weight percentof fat in the liquids stream; and (d) combining the solids stream fromthe heated slurry and the heavy phase from the liquids stream therebyforming a finely textured beef product; wherein sodium carbonate isadded to the solids stream after separation from the heated slurry or tothe finely textured beef product in an amount effective to adjust thelean textured beef slurry to a pH of from about 6.5 to about 8, whereinthe sodium carbonate is added in an amount of from about 0.02 to about0.1% by weight to provide a finely textured beef product; whereinnon-meat sourced processing aids used in the present method consist ofsodium carbonate and water, and wherein the cohesive properties of finalmixed meat products comprising the finely textured beef product areimproved as compared to like final mixed meat products comprising finelytextured beef product comprising sodium metasilicate, potassiumhydroxide, Ammonia/ammonium hydroxide, or untreated finely textured beefproduct.
 9. The method of claim 8, wherein the finely textured beefproduct comprises sodium carbonate in an amount of from about 0.03 toabout 0.05% by weight.
 10. The method of claim 1, wherein sodiumcarbonate is added to the lean textured beef slurry in an amounteffective to adjust the lean textured beef slurry to a pH of from about7 to about 7.5 to provide a finely textured beef product.
 11. The methodof claim 8, wherein sodium carbonate is added to the solids stream afterseparation from the heated slurry or to the finely textured beef productin an amount effective to adjust the lean textured beef slurry to a pHof from about 7 to about 7.5 to provide a finely textured beef product.The following is an examiner's statement of reasons for allowance:Schaefer discloses a process for making a FTB product as claimed,without addition of sodium carbonate.
 12. The method of claim 8, whereinthe finely textured beef product has a fat content of less than about25% by weight.
 13. The method of claim 8, wherein the finely texturedbeef product has a fat content of from about 1 to about 10% by weight.14. The method of claim 8, wherein the finely textured beef product hasa fat content of from about 1 to about 7% by weight.
 15. The method ofclaim 8, wherein the finely textured beef product has a fat content offrom about 1 to about 5% by weight.